An Indiana court has ruled that a pizza shop must pay for a 340-pound employee's weight-loss surgery to ensure the success of another operation for a back injury he suffered at work, raising concern among businesses bracing for more such claims.

AT&T has been sued by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which accused the largest U.S. phone company of age discrimination for refusing to rehire previously retired workers over age 40.

The Obama administration launched investigations of hundreds of businesses around the country Wednesday as part of its strategy to focus immigration enforcement on the employers who hire illegal workers.

As the economic debacle of the last year is reviewed and dissected, there are more than a few who note that if women had been in charge on Wall Street, some of the financial risks would not have been taken and we'd be in much better shape right now.

Companies, desperate to slice fat from their budgets during this recession, increasingly are targeting workplace wellness programs. Smoking cessation and weight-loss programs are among those being considered for the chopping block, says Laurel Pickering, executive director of the New York Business Group on Health, a coalition representing employers on health benefit issues.

Businesses that promote wellness often have bigger worries than candy bars in office vending machines. They must confront employee concerns about privacy and discrimination and be ready for potential backlash from employees who don't like bosses pushing them to ramp up workouts or quit smoking.

The Obama administration asked Congress on Tuesday to repeal a widely ignored tax on the personal use of company cellphones, reversing its policy just a week after seeking comments on how to better enforce the law.

The nation is seeing a growing and large movement of companies cutting or reducing benefits for employees. Health care costs for employees have been rising for years, but perks and benefits such as cost-of-living increases, pension plans, bonuses, 401(k) contributions and tuition reimbursement are now being looked at as places to save millions of dollars. Given the massive savings for employers, many workers have doubts about when or if such items will ever fully or partially return.

Given all the employee benefits changes, it's vital for all workers even those with jobs and still-intact perks to prepare for company cutbacks by stashing away more money, says Brad Kimler, an executive vice president in Fidelity's Benefits Consulting group. "Have a long-term plan."